Welcome to the Future of Bangkok

Old meets new in Bangkok, where historic temples are illuminated in front of a backdrop of high-rise buildings.

Bangkok is so much more than tuk-tuks and pad thai. Set to open in 2020, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok will welcome guests to one of this Southeast Asian capital’s most stylish, international and boundary-pushing neighborhoods. It’s time to start prepping for your trip to the East’s “City of Angels.”

Visit Wat Benchamabophit a.k.a the Marble Temple, a Buddhist temple and the most well known in Bangkok. Image credit: @ermakova via Twenty20

Legendary Traveler’s Hub

Bangkok has long been a magnet for international travelers. In the ’70s it was the tail end of the hippie trail from Europe, while today it’s the main stop on the ‘banana pancake trail’ around Southeast Asia.

The Bangkok of today looks nothing like it did a decade or two ago. This continuously flourishing metropolis is both sophisticated yet honors its heritage. The new and the old blend everywhere you look; even in the chicest districts, there’s always a soi (side street) around the corner where you find local food and drink stalls, traditional markets, and family-run shophouses.

The historic city center lies east of the Chao Phraya River on what was once swampland. Canals still divide these atmospheric neighborhoods, where you’ll find the former royal residence, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and Khao San Road, a name familiar to backpackers worldwide.

Watch the sunset over the Chao Phraya River — Thailand’s major waterway that flows through Bangkok. Image credit: @vsoipetch via Twenty20

Lumpini, The Heart Of New Bangkok

Kimpton has found a home in the refined Lumpini district, east of old Bangkok but at the geographical center of the city. The hotel will overlook Lumpini Park, the largest green space in central Bangkok. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok will feature 362 curated and artfully designed guest rooms, including 131 serviced residences.

Lumpini’s combination of luxurious properties and fine dining, grand villas that house several country ambassadors, and expansive greenery of Lumpini park is what makes it one of Bangkok’s most desirable districts. Wireless Road, running along the park’s eastern side, is Bangkok’s answer to 5th Avenue in New York, while Lang Suan Road, bisecting Lumpini from north to south, is home to the city’s most reputed restaurants.

Chit Lom Skytrain station is a few minutes away on foot, with connections to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok’s financial district stretches to the southwest, Siam Square, a shopper’s paradise, is one Skytrain stop to the west, while going east takes you down Sukhumvit, Bangkok’s most cosmopolitan boulevard.

A scaffolding of found objects frames Vivarium‘s industrial chic interior.

What Bangkok Has In Store For You

Dine at Gaggan, voted Asia’s best restaurant for the last four years, just around the corner from Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok.

Shop at Central World, one of the world’s largest shopping complexes, also within walking distance.

Marvel at the Grand Palace, the city’s top tourist attraction for a reason. The complex of palaces and shrines includes Wat Phra Kaew, the country’s most sacred temple.

Hop on the Chao Praya River Express to explore Bangkok’s riverside and spot iconic temples and buildings on either side.

Navigate row upon row of everything under the sun at Chatuchak, the world’s largest weekend market.

Sip on Bangkok’s best cocktails at Vesper, a bar that’s as sleek as the character who created and named the Vesper cocktail (Bond, James Bond).

Enjoy a taste of Bangkok’s rich culinary history at Spirit, showcasing Thai flavors in a space designed to reflect the life of renowned silk maven Jim Thompson—set at his garden-enclosed former property (now a house museum).

Have dinner at Vivarium—an industrial warehouse turned restaurant filled with hanging plants, tree roots, and found objects for a truly striking and eclectic ambience.

A dish of New Zealand lamb chops in green curry sauce with young coconut meat, heart of palm and pickled green papaya at Spirit.